Maintaining a Work-Life Balance and Still Developing Continuously

As a Digital Producer I need a broad range of knowledge to be able to effectively communicate
throughout a digital project and somehow I have to keep on top of learning, my demanding workload
and my deserving family life too.

What were your goals and motivations when you joined the IDF?

I've been managing digital projects since the 1980s and without much in the way of training
except for on the job learning and personal interest. I've spent the last 5 years developing my
experience in Agile and UX Design; I wanted to find out what I didn't know. It turns out that I
already knew quite a bit and yet, there was still plenty for me to learn. Education in these
areas gives me confidence and helps me avoided wasted efforts. It's also help to reinvigorate and
renew my interest in my career and allowed me to set goals, demonstrate control and to feel truly
positive about the future.

How did the IDF help you with your career?

Here in Australia most UX practitioners come from a business analytics or HCI background or learn on the
job with a seasoned mentor; many of these folks keep their learning close to their chest. The IDF has
given me a deep and broad understanding of UX, UI and interaction design. This gives me the confidence to
manage cross-functional, multi-disciplinary Agile teams in the SDLC and complex enterprise web design
space. I have to be able to communicate effectively and keep control over these projects – the training I
have done and am continuing to do, with the IDF, helps me perform my role effectively, efficiently and
most importantly – enjoyably.

What do you like best about the IDF? What have you learnt that changed your career?

What I love about the IDF is the quality of the education combined with the ability to do it at my own
pace. I need a balance between work and family life and the freedom to learn in my own time is essential.
I also find that IDF is on a continuous journey of improvement with a focus on quality and range of
courses across design disciplines and raising the value of their certifications to the level of being
recognized as university equivalent. The staff of the IDF is accessible, responsive and dedicated to
providing the highest quality of education and member customer service that I have ever encountered.